intolérable

Forms

intolérable (plural intolérables)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin intolerābilis (“unbearable”), formed from in- (“not”) and tolerābilis (“bearable”), from tolerō (“to bear, to endure”).^[2][3][4][5] It is the opposite of tolérable.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jean de Meun's Testament, at the end of the 13th century, has puors intolerables, the unbearable stench of hell.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It was used of a person about 1330 (Guillaume de Digulleville) and of an oppressive power in Bersuire's Livy (1352–1356).^[2][5] The word weakened to mean simply “unbearable” (1546).^[6][4] It gave the adverb intolérablement (about 1510) and the noun intolérabilité (1380), now out of use.^[6]

Timeline

• 1295 – Jean de Meun uses it of the stench of hell.^[2][7][6]
• c. 1330 – It is used of a person.^[2]
• 1352–1356 – Bersuire uses it of an oppressive power.^[2][5]
• 1380 – The derivative intolérabilité is recorded.^[6]
• c. 1510 – The adverb intolérablement appears.^[6]
• 1546 – Rabelais uses it of an unbearable person.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That cannot be borne, unbearable: une chaleur intolérable.^[8][2]
2. That cannot be accepted, inadmissible: une conduite intolérable.^[8][2]
3. Of a person, very hard to put up with.^[4][5]

Word family

• intolérablement

Related words

• tolérable
• tolérer
• intolérance
• Latin intolerābilis

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert